A commercial development planned for Oxford Commons received a variance from the Oxford Planning Commission Monday, allowing them to not plant a 4-foot evergreen buffer in front of a retaining wall.

The development will be located on the northwest corner of Sisk Avenue and Commonwealth Boulevard, just east of Wendy’s fast food restaurant. It will include a 15,525 building that will house commercial retail stores and the popular hamburger restaurant chain, Fuddruckers.

According to city code, a 4-foot evergreen buffer is required to be planted in front of any retaining wall over 6 feet high. The developers believed that the buffer could also prevent the fire department clear access to the building. The developer agreed to relocate the required plantings to a different area of the site.

The commission approved the variance and added a requirement that the developer plant some low-height bushes near the wall instead.